Capsule drying apparatus



2 Sheets-Sheet, 1.

(No Model.)

T. O. MERZ. CAPSULE DRYING APPARATUS.

Patented Aug. 12, 1890.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

- T. O. MERZ. CAPSULE DRYING APPARATUS.

Patented Aug. 12, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THEODORE O. MERZ, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE MERZ CAPSULECOMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

CAPSU LE=DRYI NG APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 433,991, dated August12, 1890. Application filed June 24, 1889. Serial No. 315,33Q. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, THEODORE C. MERZ, a citizen of the United States,residing at Detroit, county of iVayne, State of Michigan, have inventeda certain new and useful Improvement in Capsule-Drying Apparatus;

and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itpertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

Myinvention has for its object the production of an apparatus for dryingcapsules in a simple and rapid manner; and it consists of a combinationof devices and appliances, hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my apparatus. Fig. 2 isan end elevation of the dryingframe removed from the drying-chamber.Fig. 3 is an elevation of the drying-room, showing the ends of theframe. Fig. 4 shows a portion of the frame with the capsule-plate placedthereon.

I11 carrying out myinvention, A represents a suitable room or inclosurein which warm air may be confined, and B represents any suitable stoveor other source of heat-supply whereby the room may be properly heated.

0 represents a series of angle-irons extending from the partition a ofthe room through the latter and beyond for a distance. These angle-ironsare supported at one end by the walls of the room and at the other endby. the bands D D. These bands are supported and held in position by therods d, the whole forming a light and strong truss or frame-work. Theangle-irons are so placed, as shown in Fig. 2, that a series of racksare formed, on

which may be placed in radial positions the,

plates bearing the capsules, as shown at E in Figs. 3 and 4. At theouter ends of these radial racks may be placed small drop-doors F, so asto retain as much heat in the room as possible. To place thecapsule-plates on the racks, the operator raises the door F and shoves aplate in, as shown in Fig. 3 and by the dotted lines in Fig. 1.

this along by the insertion of another plate,

and so on until the rack is filled, and each rack may be successivelyfilled in this way.

G is a fan adapted to revolve within the He then pushes circle formed bythe radial racks and to circulate the air around the racks. This fan maybe revolved in any suitable manner-as,

for instance, by the belt 9 passing overa suit- I able pulley.

The operation is obvious. The radial racks having been filled with thecapsule-plates, the fan is revolved and the hot air of the roomcirculated around the capsules, thus rapidly drying and hardening them.The plates can then be pushed along to the outer end of the racks, andthe fan still revolving the cool air outside the room is circulatedaround the capsules. By making the delivery end of the racks slightlylower than the other end, as shown, the sliding of the plates from oneend to the other is facilitated.

What I claim is- 1. An apparatus for drying capsules, consisting of adrying-chamber, an open framework provided with racks composed of aninner annular series of longitudinal angle-irons, an outer annularseries of longitudinal angleirons and the annular bands D D',and radialrods d, connecting and supporting said angleirons, the capsule-moldplates E, supported by and adapted to slide in a right line along saidangle-irons, and a rotary fan located within the circle formed by theinner series of angle irons, substantially as described.

2. An apparatus for drying capsules, consisting of a drying-chamber,aninclined framework arranged partly within and. partly outside thedrying-chamber and comprising a series of racks composed of inner andouter concentric series of longitudinal angle-irons G, inner and outerannular bands D D, and radial rods d, the capsule-mold platesE,havingtheir inner and outer edges respectively engaging the inner andouterseries of angleirons and adapted to slide thereon in a right line,and a rotary fan located within the circle formed by the inner series ofangle-ironsand arranged both within and outside the dryingchamber,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of twowitnesses.

